Impact tool

ABSTRACT

The tool has a head with a tang to which is brazed a tubular steel handle. The handle is generally elliptical in cross section, and a reinforcing rib is located adjacent the head and lies in the plane of the major axis of the handle ellipse. The reinforcing rib is secured both to the tang and to the inside of the tubular steel handle.

United States Patent [56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1901Regan..........................

[72] Inventor Ernest O.Estwing Rockford, Ill.

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Estwing Manufacturing Company, Inc.

[52] U.S. 145/29 R, ABSTRACT: The tool has a head with a tang to whichis 145/6l J brazed a tubular steel handle. The handle is generallyelliptical in cross section, and a reinforcing rib is located adjacentthe head and lies in the plane of the major axis of the handle ellipse.The reinforcing rib is secured both to the tang and to the inside of thetubular steel handle.

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IMPACT TOOL BACKGROUND The invention pertains generally to hand tools,and more particularly to an improved hand tool of the impact or strikingtype, such as hatchets, hammers, etc.

A wooden-handled impact tool tends to break at the intersection of thehandle and head. This is due to misblows on the handle and/orconcentration of stresses at the juncture of the handle and head. In thepast, tools having a solid shank adjacent the head have been developedto correct the abovementioned deficiency. Solid shank handles, however,add to the weight of the tool and may move the center of percussion offthe head, thereby causing a stinging sensation in use. Tubular handlesdo not have the disadvantage of the solid shank, however, the tubularhandle tends to be dented by overstrikes or misblows on the handle. Sucha dent will throw the 'tool head out of its normal position and therebydestroy its usefulness.

SUMMARY Is is a general object of the present invention to provide animpact tool which overcomes the objectionable features of prior toolsand is substantially indestructible in ordinary use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an impact toolwhich has a comparatively lightweight handle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an impact tool with atubular steel handle which ordinarily will not be dented by misblows oroverstrikes.

Still another object is to provide an impact tool with a tubular handleand having a reinforcing rib adjacent the head.

These, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, willbecome apparent as the same becomes better understood from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention and having a portion broken away for betterillustration;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view as seen from the right of FIG. I andalso having a portion broken away for better illustration; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and onan enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION Reference is now made more particularly to the drawingswhich illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out theinvention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the sameparts throughout the several views.

The impact tool, or striking tool. of the present invention is, in theembodiment shown, in the form of a mallet or hammer. The tool includes ahead and a tubular handle 11. The handle Il may be provided with a handgrip 11a as shown in phantom lines on the drawing. The head is formedwith an integral peg or tang 12 which is preferably tapered and extendsinto the end of the tubular handle II. In the embodiment illustrated,the head has oppositely facing striking faces 13. It is to beunderstood, however, that other types of impact tools may be utilized inwhich the head extends crosswise of the handle and, with the handle,defines a central plane in which the tool is ordinarily used.

The tubular handle 11 has an oblong or elliptical cross section. Theseterms are not to be limited to an exact ellipse. However. when thehandle has an oblong cross section, it is intended that it have a majoraxis extending in the aforementioned plane of ordinary use of the tool.In its preferred form, the handle 11 has a relatively thin steel walland extends from the head 10 and surrounds the tang 12 of the head.

In order to reinforce the tubular handle 11 without markedly increasingthe overall weight of the tool, a relatively thin reinforcing rib 14 isdisposed in the handle. Preferably, the reinforcing plate or rib l4 liesin the plane of ordinary usage of the tool. It is contemplated that therib 14 have a press or drive fit within the tubular handle 11 and thatit be sufficiently tight to brace the tubular handle to prevent bucklingor denting in the event of misblows or other exceptional strains on thehandle. Preferably, means is provided for securing the longitudinaledges of the rib 14 to the inside of'the tubular handle 11. Such meansmay be a very tight press fit, or the longitudinal edges may be brazedto the handle as at 15. Preferably, the rib 14 has one end secured tothe tang 12, as by brazing designated 16. The tubular handle 11 is alsopreferably brazed to the tang 12asat 17. v

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the reinforcing rib l4 is a flatplate having a width approximating the major axis of the internalellipse of the tubular handle 11. The rib can be of any suitablethickness and length depending upon the weight of the tool; however, therib 14 is preferably a relatively thin plate having a thickness which isa small fraction of the overall width of the tubular handle. In theembodiment illustrated, the rib l4 has a length sufficient to reinforcethe portion of the handle which is subject to misblow's and (renting;and thus terminates prior to the portion of the handle ordinarilygripped by the hand of a 'user. In this manner, the rib reinforces thehandle in the plane of ordinary use and protects against misblows andthe like without adding undue weight to the tool.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has herein beenillustrated and described, this has been done by way of iilustration andnot limitation, and the invention should not be limited except asrequired by the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an impact tool having a head portion set crosswise of an elongatedtubular handle and both lying in a plane in which the tool is ordinarilyused, a tang integral with the head and extending laterally therefrom,and means for securing the tubular handle to the tang; the improvementcomprising: a reinforcing rib in the tubular handle; the rib beingrelatively thin in thickness and lying in the plane of use; the ribhaving longitudinal edges with a press fit in the tubular handle and oneend engaged with the tang; and means for securing the one end of the ribto the tang; whereby the handle is reinforced in the plane of use.

2. An impact tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tubular handle iselliptical in cross section, and the reinforcing rib lies in the planeof the major axis of the handle ellipse.

3. An impact tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein the reinforcing rib isa flat plate having a width approximating the major axis of the internalellipse of the tubular handle 4. An impact tool as set forth in claim 2wherein the tang has an elliptical cross section, and the tubular handleis shaped to encompass the tang.

5. A hand striking tool having a head and a handle, characterized inthat the handle comprises a hollow, thin-walled, metal tubular memberextending from the head; a thin, metal, reinforcing rib in the tubularhandle and extending in the direction of the head portion of the tool;said reinforcing rib having longitudinal edges tightly engaged with theinside of the tubular handle and one end engaged with the head; andmeans for securing the longitudinal edges and the one end to the handleand head respectively.

6. A hand striking tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein the headincludes a short tang disposed in the end of the handle and brazedthereto, the one end of the reinforcing rib is engaged with the tang,and the last-mentioned means is a brazmg.

7. A hand striking tool as set forth in claim 6 wherein the tang has anelliptical cross section, the tubular handle is elliptical in crosssection and shaped to encompass the tang. and the reinforcing rib liesin the plane of the major axis of the handle ellipse.

8. A hand striking tool as set forth in claim 7 wherein the reinforcingrib is a solid flat plate of rectangular cross section and having avvidth approximating the major axis of the internal ellipse of thehandle.

9. A hand striking tool as set forth in claim wherein the tu-

1. In an impact tool having a head portion set crosswise of an elongatedtubular handle and both lying in a plane in which the tool is ordinarilyused, a tang integral with the head and extending laterally therefrom,and means for securing the tubular handle to the tang; the improvementcomprising: a reinforcing rib in the tubular handle; the rib beingrelatively thin in thickness and lying in the plane of use; the ribhaving longitudinal edges with a press fit in the tubular handle and oneend engaged with the tang; and means for securing the one end of the ribto the tang; whereby the handle is reinforced in the plane of use.
 2. Animpact tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tubular handle iselliptical in cross section, and the reinforcing rib lies in the planeof the major axis of the handle ellipse.
 3. An impact tool as set forthin claim 2 wherein the reinforcing rib is a flat plate having a widthapproximating the major axis of the internal ellipse of the tubularhandle
 4. An impact tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein the tang has anelliptical cross section, and the tubular handle is shaped to encompassthe tang.
 5. A hand striking tool having a head and a handle,characterized in that the handle comprises a hollow, thin-walled, metaltubular member extending from the head; a thin, metal, reinforcing ribin the tubular handle and extending in the direction of the head portionof the tool; said reinforcing rib having longitudinal edges tightlyengageD with the inside of the tubular handle and one end engaged withthe head; and means for securing the longitudinal edges and the one endto the handle and head respectively.
 6. A hand striking tool as setforth in claim 5 wherein the head includes a short tang disposed in theend of the handle and brazed thereto, the one end of the reinforcing ribis engaged with the tang, and the last-mentioned means is a brazing. 7.A hand striking tool as set forth in claim 6 wherein the tang has anelliptical cross section, the tubular handle is elliptical in crosssection and shaped to encompass the tang, and the reinforcing rib liesin the plane of the major axis of the handle ellipse.
 8. A hand strikingtool as set forth in claim 7 wherein the reinforcing rib is a solid flatplate of rectangular cross section and having a width approximating themajor axis of the internal ellipse of the handle.
 9. A hand strikingtool as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tubular handle is elliptical incross section; and the reinforcing rib is a solid flat plate ofrectangular cross section and having a width equal to the major axis ofthe internal ellipse of the handle and having a press fit therewith.